TheCable

Cross River state civil servants enjoyed the best Workers’ Day celebration in the country, as they received their salaries on the first day of the month.

Ben Ayade, governor of the state, announced the payments at the U.J. Eusene Stadium, venue of the May Day rally.

The workers rejoiced after receiving alerts on their phones, and they showered encomiums on Ayade, who was named the ‘Best Labour Friendly Governor in Nigeria’.

Ayade also promised the workers that his administration would ensure prompt payment of salaries.

Following an agreement with some banks, the governor does not await allocation from the federation account before paying workers.

Civil servants in the state usually get their income in the third week of the month.

The situation in Cross River is totally different from over 20 states of the country. Currently, some states are owing up to six months salaries.

Commenting on the plight of workers at the May Day rally in Abuja, Bobbio Kaigama, president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), advised governors to look beyond federal allocations.

“Each state government should be proactive and look inwards to the state’s bountiful alternative sources of income rather than relying only on statutory monthly allocations from the federation account,” he said.